The Prime Minister was too quick to declare his confidence in this country's treatment of foreign trusts following the "Panama papers".

If Britain stands to suffer most from its foolish decision last week, the EU could be hurt just as badly if it cannot eject Britain quickly.

School zoning was a subject once close to the heart of public education. Now it serves a vested interest of a different sort.

The test table is being set for the real deal before the next Rugby World Cup - the British and Irish Lions tour next year.

The City will no doubt survive as a financial capital but United Kingdom is unlikely to.

The Government's decision to extend the service of New Zealand soldiers in Iraq beyond next February's deadline is the right one.

The EU has overreached its remit in many respects, yet the world is better when Europe is together. Britain should stay.

National has been remarkably conciliatory so far for a party so long in power. An extension of paid parental leave deserves its consideration.

The deathknell sounded for yet another custom this week, with the TAB hanging up the service which let punters place bets over the phone by talking to an operator.

We will never know precisely why a 29-year-old American went to a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and started shooting people.

This year has carried hopes of a breakthrough for "pay equity", which means equal pay for women not just with men doing the same work but with men doing different work.

Back in the day Wales could run on to a rugby paddock and field a team stacked with A-list names.

In a country where it is perfectly safe to drink water from a tap, it is incredible that anybody can make money by selling water in bottles.

Why should this Pacific nation, half the world away from the sovereign's palace, retain a foreign head of state?

Pity the British. Here in NZ we have referendums on subjects such as the flag; they have them on the make-up of their nation and its place in the world.

If the railway works as its planners intend, it will make Auckland a more compact city, boosting its CBD and attracting more dense development.

The return of Manu Vatuvei to the playing field today is doubly welcome. The stuttering Warriors sorely need the hulking winger's presence.

A week ago, when the Budget had delivered no answers to the hyperinflation of house prices, the PM told us to wait for a National Policy Statement.

In sport, as in business, politics and all competitive pursuits, it can be as hard to stay ahead of the game as it is to get there.

This country would benefit from many more people, and better preparation for their arrival.

NZME yesterday applied to the Commerce Commission for approval of a merger with its main rival in the business.

This is not a Government that often springs surprises, for which we should be grateful most of the time.

A party of off-road driving enthusiasts set out in 13 vehicles on Sunday to tackle a notorious high-country dirt track before it was closed for the winter.

The Labour Party surprised many people last week by advocating the complete abolition of boundaries on urban expansion.

Parker has New Zealand and Samoa behind him tonight as he bids for a chance to go for the summit. Here's to him.

These days Auckland is more like a graveyard for potential All Blacks. They seem to do better in any other franchise.

A survey of 1777 secondary school teachers has found nearly half believe the national assessment system, NCEA, is adversely affecting their teaching.

It is often said in favour of prisoner rehabilitation programmes that every offender has to be released eventually. That's not quite true.

We should be reducing debt faster while the good times last, not talking about tax cuts.

The theory of tradeable quotas always sounded too good to be true.